After the family split up, I achieved martial arts sainthood.

A good-for-nothing who idles around and freeloads, dares to raise his voice at me?

Gu Xin, who had been holding back his anger for a long time, finally found an outlet.

She used every ounce of her strength, slapping Gu Hong so hard that his head was buzzing.

He fell to the ground, completely stunned.

He didn't make a sound for a long time before getting up.

"Hong'er?"

"Hiro?"

This frightened Liu Mei and her son Gu Qiusheng, turning their faces pale.

They rushed forward in a panic, hurriedly helping Gu Hong up to check on him.

"Oh dear, my son, are you alright? Don't scare your mother like that!"

Seeing that Gu Hong was stunned and unresponsive, Liu Mei burst into tears.

Gu Qi was at a loss, while Gu Qiusheng was trembling with anger.

"Gu Xin, how could you... how could you be so cruel to your brother?"

Gu Qiusheng turned to look at Gu Xin, his anger burning.

The Celestial Master of Baiyun Temple once said that Gu Hong is a talent that the Gu family has never seen before.

If one were to take the imperial examination, one would surely pass with flying colors.

With such talent, he could count on bringing glory to his family and place high hopes on him.

If Gu Xin were to cripple him like this, what difference would that make from severing the Gu family's lineage?

"Where did I get a younger brother? My parents only had one child, me."

Gu Xin scoffed indifferently, not caring at all about this bullshit family affection.

"you!"

Gu Qiusheng was so angry that his chest heaved and he began to breathe heavily.

"father!"

Gu Qi was even more frightened and at a loss, hurriedly supporting Gu Qiusheng and taking the opportunity to accuse Gu Xin: "Gu Xin, do you want to anger your grandfather to death?"

"Whatever!"

Gu Xin curled his lip indifferently: "Anyway, he doesn't care about me as his grandson, so why should I care about his life or death?"

"you……"

Gu Qi was so angry that he was speechless.

"Separate the family! Separate the family! Gu Xin, the Gu family has no one like you!"

Once Gu Qiusheng caught his breath, he angrily shouted, "Get out! Get out of the Gu family!"

That's it!

This old man still has some conscience at least.

Gu Xin smiled, not annoyed, but rather relieved.

Finally, I can get rid of these bastards.

Without saying a word, Gu Xin turned around and went to his room to pack his luggage.

"Dad, we can't divide it! We absolutely can't! Gu Xin can earn money and support the family. If we give him away, our lives will be very difficult!"

"Dad! We may be angry, but we mustn't let it cloud our judgment!"

Gu Qi was a reasonable person and hurriedly persuaded Gu Qiusheng to retract his decision.

Although he disliked Gu Xin, he was also aware of his nephew's abilities.

More than half of the Gu family's income was earned by Gu Xin alone.

With Gu Xin gone, the Gu family's future profits will be reduced by at least half.

Wouldn't his future expenses also have to be reduced?

No no no!

Make a fuss as you please, but don't make yourself suffer.

"Let him go! I don't believe the Gu family can't survive without him! Once Hong'er passes the imperial examination and brings glory to the Gu family, we'll see him come crying back, begging for forgiveness!"

Gu Qiusheng was in a fit of anger and wouldn't listen to any advice. Instead, he placed even higher hopes on Gu Hong.

Gu Qi was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

Gu Xin packed his luggage and came out, and Gu Qi stepped forward to try to stop him.

But Gu Xin, who was prepared, dodged and dashed out of the courtyard, running into the vast night.

As for those ridiculous and complicated procedures for dividing the family property?

Gu Xin didn't care.

Those are things that trap pedantic, pedantic, and foolish scholars.

In this world where strength reigns supreme, if he achieves mastery of martial arts, who would dare to use these things to restrain him?

"oops!"

Gu Qi chased after Gu Xin to the door, but Gu Xin's figure was already out of sight. He was so anxious that he beat his chest and stamped his feet.

……

Under the vast darkness of night, I walked along a deserted and quiet street corner.

Gu Xin walked with ease and in a cheerful mood.

Without the Gu family's accomplices binding him, he could finally pursue his life without any worries.

Learn martial arts!

Now that we've come to this world that values ​​both culture and martial arts, wouldn't it be a waste of the opportunity to reopen if we didn't strive to climb to the top?

Gu Xin patted his chest, and a panel shaped like a fish bubble appeared in his field of vision.

[Cultivation Level: Not Yet Entered the Realm]

[Technique: Not yet learned]

[Techniques: Slingshot (Masterful), Archery (Slightly Proficient), Trapping (Slightly Proficient), Stone Throwing (Slightly Proficient), Cooking (Peak), Fishing (Slightly Proficient), Herbal Medicine (Masterful), Woodworking (Beginner), Gambling (Slightly Proficient), Bone Setting (Beginner), Massage (Masterful), Magic Tricks (Slightly Proficient)...]

Cultivation experience: 0 years

This is his attribute panel.

His cultivation techniques and experience are the same as Li Jinyu's.

The only section on techniques has more than thirty different items.

These skills were all "won" by Gu Xin from his peers, thanks to his special talent.

By defeating someone, you can "acquire" one of their skills.

It is precisely because of these diverse skills that Gu Xin's personal income is comparable to the total income of his entire family.

With such a golden touch, how could Gu Xin be willing to spend his whole life as a lowly person who is bullied and exploited?

He first activated his martial arts three years ago when his mother passed away, but Gu Qiusheng refused, citing the family's financial difficulties.

So he worked hard to earn money and saved for two years.

He mentioned it again a year ago, but just then, a Taoist priest from Baiyun Temple discovered that Gu Hong had the talent for the imperial examinations. Gu Qiusheng prioritized supporting Gu Hong's studies and told him to take it easy.

Considering the reputation of Baiyun Temple as the most profound Taoist sect in the thirteen states of the world, Gu Xin held back.

Until this time...

"Now that I'm free from these burdens and have enough money for the apprenticeship fee, I can start my studies tomorrow."

Gu Xin looked forward to the future, feeling his blood boiling.

If it weren't so late at night, the martial arts school would have already closed.

Gu Xin wished he could become an apprentice right now.

"I have a cheat code; I can defeat others and learn what they've learned. Is there any need for me to formally apprentice and learn from a master?"

Thinking about becoming an apprentice, Gu Xin's mind started racing: "I only have twelve taels and six qian on me right now. If I formally become an apprentice, I'll have to deduct twelve taels."

"At that time, I will be practicing martial arts every day, and I'm afraid I won't have the opportunity to earn money anymore. With only six qian of silver left, I'm afraid I'll have difficulty making ends meet."

"If only I could join a martial arts school and spar with the students without spending too much money..."

As he silently weighed the situation, Gu Xin's boiling blood gradually calmed down.

"Forget it, I'll go to sleep first! We'll talk about it at the martial arts gym tomorrow morning!"

As night deepened and drowsiness crept in, Gu Xin stopped thinking about it.

I plan to find a secluded, sheltered corner along the street and sleep fully clothed.

Although it is late autumn now, the weather is getting cooler.

However, if they stayed away from the wind, young and strong people like Gu Xin did not feel cold.

"Master Bao, spare me! Master Bao, spare me..."

Just as Gu Xingang turned the corner, a voice suddenly begged for mercy came from the street corner ahead.

Accompanied by pleas for mercy, there were also muffled sounds of fists and feet being thrown at each other.

"Now you're begging for mercy? Where the hell were you before? You old bastard, you even dared to hide the mountain god's offerings, you just want to die, don't you?"

"Beat him! Break both his legs!"

Another series of muffled punches and kicks, mixed with agonizing screams, echoed around the street corner.

Gu Xin looked up and, by the moonlight, saw a group of young men surrounding and brutally beating an old man in his forties or fifties.

The old man was pinned to the ground, clutching his head and wailing, struggling desperately but unable to break free.

A burly young man in his late twenties was leaning on a broadsword, standing casually on the side of the street.

All the houses along the street had their doors and windows tightly closed and their lights off.

What bad luck, running into the Green Forest Gang thugs...

Cao Bao was still the ruthless one.

[Cultivation Level: Not Yet Entered the Realm]

[Skill: Plum Blossom Stake Kung Fu (Slightly Accomplished)]

[Techniques: Flower-Picking Hand (Beginner's Guide), Flower-Chasing Step (Beginner's Guide)]

Cultivation experience: 5 years

[Can be picked up after defeating the target]

Looking at the attribute panel floating on the street corner, Gu Xin swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Cao Bao was a Red Stick thug in the Green Robe Hall, one of the six major halls of the Green Forest Gang.

He had studied at a martial arts school for several years before joining the Qinglin Gang after completing his apprenticeship, where he was highly regarded by the leader of the Qingyi Hall.

This person is ruthless and cruel, and has a notorious reputation among the lower classes.

He has always been someone that Gu Xin and his friends admire and aspire to be.

Li Jinyu and Zhao Baoyin supported his martial arts skills and his joining the Qinglin Gang because he was a role model for them.

Just as Gu Xin was in a state of confusion and at a loss, Cao Bao, who was standing with his sword in hand, turned around and looked at Gu Xin coldly.

"What are you looking at? Get lost!"

The cold rebuke sent a chill down Gu Xin's spine. He dared not argue, and hurriedly lowered his head and ran away.

The Green Forest Gang is powerful and not something that lowly commoners like them can afford to offend.

Even though Gu Xin had lofty ambitions, he didn't dare to provoke them at this moment.

After running through several streets until the surroundings became completely deserted, Gu Xin dared to stop.

Learn martial arts!

You must learn martial arts!

Leaning against the wall at the street corner, feeling the cold sweat soaking his robes, Gu Xin's resolve grew stronger.

……

The night passed peacefully, and nothing else happened.

As the eastern sky began to lighten, Gu Xin, who had been trembling with fear and hadn't slept all night, cautiously stepped out of the quiet street corner.

Without even having time to fill their stomachs, they quickly determined their direction and hurried towards the martial arts school.

Qingyuan County now has three major martial arts schools.

One of them was run by an old bodyguard.

One of them was run by a retired veteran.

The most renowned of them all is the last one.

The owner of this martial arts school once participated in the martial arts imperial examination.

He successfully passed both the county and prefectural examinations.

Ultimately, he was out of luck and failed the preliminary examination, thus failing to obtain the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination).

Even so, he was still a martial arts candidate and a top figure in Qingyuan County.

Therefore, most people in Qingyuan County who wanted to learn martial arts went there because of its reputation.

Unfortunately, this martial arts school is located in the inner city, and the requirements for accepting disciples are extremely high.

Only those from respectable families who have been recommended by connections have the opportunity to join.

Gu Xin used to admire this company the most.

But now...

Gu Xin went to the nearest one, called Zhenwei Martial Arts School.

The owner of the museum is that retired veteran.

The master of this martial arts school had the lowest apprenticeship fee among the three schools, which was only twelve taels of silver.

Such a kind and benevolent person would undoubtedly be the most likely to negotiate entry conditions with him.

If the terms cannot be agreed upon, his apprenticeship fee will only be enough to become an apprentice at this family.

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Gu Xin arrived at the black lacquered gate of Zhenwei Martial Arts School as the sun rose.

Only after taking a chance did he climb the steps and knock on the brass ring on the door.